Naymote President’s meter reports discourses
Monrovia, Liberia – Barley eight months in office, Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has released a comprehensive President’s Meter performance report of the administration of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. According to Naymote, President’s Meter Performance Report highlight the period from January to August 2024, outlining the achievements and ongoing initiatives of President Boakai’s administration. The assessment of the government’s performance from January to August 2024 however reveals mixed results in implementing the promises made by the President and the Unity Party Government.
Speaking at a news conference in Monrovia, Naymote’s Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo, noted in the report, as saying, “Out of the 119 promises tracked, 3 (3%) have been fully completed, with 70 (59%) are still ongoing. While 17 (14%) have not yet started, and 29 (24%) remain not rated due to insufficient data or delays in action.”
Jarwolo disclosed that these figures highlight some progress but raise questions about the pace of reforms critical to the nation’s development. While the government’s focus on infrastructure and governance issues is commendable, concerns remain about the slow pace of action on key reforms needed to drive sustainable growth.
These reforms, especially in sectors like health, education, the fight against illicit drugs, rule of rule and corruption, are vital to improving service delivery and maintaining oversight of public infrastructure and investments. Without these measures, the frameworks needed to support economic growth and create jobs remain fragile.
He mentioned that the key findings in the report include, Macroeconomic Stability and Infrastructural Development: Of the 67 promises under pillar one 42 are ongoing, with substantial investments in road construction and financial management reforms, Health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene): The administration has made advances in improving access to healthcare and sanitation, with 9 out of 12 promises currently ongoing. Education: President Boakai’s government remains committed to human capacity development, with 3 ongoing reforms aimed at improving both access and quality in the education sector. Rule of law, commerce and industry, and culture and tourism sectors: The government have made limited strives in these areas. Of the total of 9 promises tracked under these sectors, just one (1) ongoing while 8 promises could not be rated due to lack of available information.
These promises fall under six key pillars of President’s Boakai ARREST Agenda: 1. Macroeconomic Stability & Infrastructure Development (67 promises) 2. Health, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Environment, and Climate Change (12 promises) 3. Human Capacity Development (11 promises) 4. Governance and Rule of Law (16 promises) 5. Gender, Youth, Children, and Social Protection (9 promises) 6. Fight against Corruption (4 promises).President Boakai, was Inaugurated as Liberia’s 26th President on January 22, 2024, Naymote has over the years tracked previous presidents promises. And during the 2023 presidential elections President Boakai has completed just 3% of the promises made during his campaign, according to the report released by Naymote, a governance monitoring organization. The findings reflect a mixed start to Boakai’s six-year term, raising questions about the effectiveness of his administration’s early efforts.
Boakai, who campaigned under the slogan “Rescue Mission and Think Liberia, Love Liberia, Build Liberia,” emphasized economic reforms, infrastructure development, anti-corruption measures, and public service improvement. His promises were detailed in the Unity Party’s ARREST Agenda, which focuses on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
The 2023 presidential election saw a significant voter turnout of 78.86% in the first round, leading to a runoff on November 14, 2023, where Boakai narrowly defeated incumbent George Weah with 50.64% of the vote.
The President Meter Project enhances political accountability by offering real-time, and transparent updates on government performance. This initiative aligns with the government commitment to transparency, inclusive service delivery, and political accountability. The institution encourages the government to address delays, particularly in areas such as anti-corruption measures, rule of law, and education reform. The organization also urges the Liberian public to stay informed and actively participate in the democratic process. Naymote will continue to provide regular updates to ensure greater accountability and encourage the government to fulfill its commitments to the Liberian people.
President Boakai, who has claimed to be a veteran politician, having served as Vice President from 2006 to 2018 has taken power but seem to be struggling to deliver. His political journey includes a previous bid for the presidency in 2017, which ended in defeat against Former President George M. Weah. Following his election victory in 2023, many viewed Boakai’s return to power as a potential turning point for Liberia.
However, his early performance assessment poses a challenge as he strives to navigate the complexities of governance and public expectations. With 70 commitments underway, the focus now shifts to the administration’s ability to fulfill these promises in the coming months or years, amidst growing calls for transparency and accountability from citizens and civil society organizations.
Reported by Simeon S. Wiakanty
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